RVEC Suggestions Thread

[HowlingHooves]

Oh totally understandable! I myself am not a great artist when it comes to drawing or coloring, lol. I'm a writer through and through! But seeing your adapt the boots into EasyBoots would be amazing, and adding in a tail wrap would be gorgeous! Or maybe, as another suggestion regarding the tails, a shaved tail around the dock area itself? I've seen that at a few shows, but it's kind of hit and miss in terms of looking more pristine, depending on the horse itself and its cost color lol. But that's just my opinion of course.

I don't have any real ideas right now, but I'd be happy to help when you've got what your thinking for it down.

[SydneyandStorm]

Do you have any idea which of the non-EasyBoots suggestions seem most popular (except for the saddle/bridle stuff)?

[HowlingHooves]

I'm not really seeing much of anything that others have posted multiple times, of that makes sense. I went back a few pages but the last posts I checked (from April.) were about coat colors and/or breeds. The only other thing that seems to he wanted is the possibility of more disciplines. You already stated that you'd like to back off from them until more classes/events are filled. c;

So it's up to you to decide what you'd like to do. Maybe see if anyone else pops in and has their say in anything before moving forward?

[SydneyandStorm]

Oh, pardon me! I meant within endurance itself -- 100% my fault, so sorry!

[HowlingHooves]

Oh! Der Howl, lol.

I don't really think it's much of a popular thing, to be honest. Most people who compete, as far as I'm aware, just make sure they have the saddle equipment, their own safety equipment and then the hood boots if they use them. Lol

Am I making sense at all? I'm tired tonight. XD If you just wanted to have the EasyBoots be required for Endurance Trials thats totally fine and up to you.

[SydneyandStorm]

You're good! I think we'll count on the EasyBoots and leg boots for endurance or maybe a halter if I can get that up ^^ Thanks so much!

[OutFoxed]

Hey,
So I lurk way to much. Your dialog concerning the competitions grabbed my attention, and of course I couldn't help but brainstorm - a little.

What you have for the endurance gear sounds just about right, protective hoof gear and leg gear is a great idea for the intense strains of endurance - it also seems like halter type head gear is often utilized as well as some form of cotton lead rope. Some research shows that it's mainly the tack (saddle, bridle) that is truly specialized and recommended with limited other equipment that is required. There was a bit about weight classes and using weights to meet standards like those used in racing. It seems that any more objects or 'packages' would just make it a little too complicated for RVEC (training packages, beach rides, hills and valleys).

Let's jump on that bandwagon for a moment - Training packages or advanced ways to train - offering the ability to train a horse on a treadmill, in water, Hills & Valleys, Beach Rides, Strength & Stamina, Gallops, Starts, Hot Walker/Euro-cisor. Each different 'package' would increase stats in certain areas - permanently or temporarily. One package a month, lasts two weeks?


Within this hurricane of a brainstorm came the idea of extensive or integrated competitions - rpg competitions. Held maybe once a month or bimonthly, or whenever the time, energy, effort all comes together. These style competitions would be more advanced than the normally run shows. Maybe three posts/responses have to be made by the user per entry (obviously the number needs to be worked) [number gives a clear start and stop as well as judging criteria] but would also be in a prompt/rpg style with interactive components. What would make these different than the Trail Ride or Mustang Million are the facts that they are on a smaller scale and maybe held only on weekends/or set days.

This style can also help with the group centered competitions instead of individual/discipline centered competitions as it is not limited to how the horse gets from place to place but the fact that it does (no limitations on discipline), even driving could be encouraged. Although I am still trying to figure out how Halter/Showmanship/Vaulting can be brought in - but right now riding or driving could be utilized. -- Possibly they could be incorporated in the soundness and fitness examination/parade...

The possible advanced competitions that could be held under this type include - endurance rides, competitive trail rides (with obstacles and horsemanship trials), hunter paces, relay races, fox hunts, etc. Groups between 3-5 individuals have to navigate the course together for all competitions - more specialized competitions incorporate jumping and obstacles (Hunts/Trail).

Obstacles and Trials could be judged by multiple people instead of Sydney doing all the judging - and hey, maybe you could join in the fun!


...We really need a hunt association. I wish I wasn't so scattered with my internet access (ahh the amount of stuff I need to do for RVEC ...make my stables, my poor horses, poke the associations - just craziness.


And yes, my brainstorming is a bit like a wild goose chase; our next stop Search & Rescue Event.
It would be awesome to have a 'call to duty' mystery ride/group event that gets everyone together on RVEC. I love SAR and am hoping that my future includes both dog and horse Search & Rescue work. With RVEC, the local force (insert government/civic department/agency or light/dark side) has called upon the Individuals of RVEC to help solve a mystery. They require our detective skills as well as our mounted abilities to find clues to hopefully solve the mystery. I'm not sure where you want to go within the degree of seriousness (missing person/horse/silly object) as in either the police? force is asking for help in a SAR event or RVEC is putting on a Mystery Fun Ride. It could be split into teams or as a whole solved together. A thread could be used for dialog to solve clues and another for rp style. Maybe some prizes could be 'found' through out the event, such as tack or companions (while out riding for clues in your group, you happened across a stranded heifer [with no brand, or returned to owner who has so happy that he gave you a calf], congratulations you have received a cow! ; While scouting the abandoned barn you found a halter. After wiping the inch of dirt off the leather and apply leather cleaner, the halter looks brand new, congratulations you have received a halter! ; While on the trails scouting for clues with your group, you happened upon an overgrown and disused orchard. The trees, while wild and overgrown, have plenty of deliciously ripe apples, congratulations you and your horse enjoy apple snacks [energy renewed, +1 point to ___ stat] - other objects could be found like herbs, plants (raspberry - oh look your mare is calmer for the next ___ days), old pottery (return this to the Store and receive ___ Bonus or Money).
So the possibilities just became endless. Most likely I could go on if you encourage it.

I'll umm, let you process all of that for now though :)



Also, I'm cursing my internet all the time - or lack there of. There's only so much you can do on a five year old 'smart' phone. -.- I miss out so much.

[SydneyandStorm]

Holy cow, let me digest all of that xDD

I'd definitely want to include a halter if I could make it! Problem is, horse tack has always been a struggle for me, and I won't put something out there unless I'm legitimately proud of it xD So we'll see -- if not, it won't hurt to keep it as boots and leg protection, although I'd certainly prefer the halter ^^

Training packages would certainly be a good idea! I'd like to tweak that a bit to work with injured horses, perhaps -- your treadmill idea inspired me a bit cx Our RVEC horses don't get injured nearly as much as they ought to, and mostly because I don't have a way to make that a regular occurrence -- say we change that? What if we had some horse injuries that were mild, some severe, some that would make a horse companion only, etc.? And then an owner would have to decide how much therapy they wanted to pay for that would have various levels of recovery? A lot of users have way too much money and nothing to spend it on -- in the real world, horses hurt themselves way too often to let anyone end up in that situation xD And then maybe once they get back up to whatever condition they can achieve, training goes back to normal? My concern with training packages is that it'd be a lot extra to keep up with... Even with help, I don't know that I could manage everyone doing that amount of training, and then I'd need to come up with new formulas and such... If I made it available for money and all, the people with all the currency would be perpetually ahead, and I fear it'd turn into Howrse where the ones at the bottom have no way of getting ahead, you know? But since everyone has horses that get injured, maybe that could help <3 What do you think?

I'd love to incorporate something like that with the competitions but the problem is that so few people are willing to put the effort forward... It'll probably be something we do over the summer as a special event or something so that we keep the interest and all ^^ I've just struggled with things like that in the past because it requires so much time and daily dedication, and I know that's a lot to ask of people with busy schedules, so summer would probably be the time for stuff like that c:

Yes, yes, hunt association, definitely xD I think after all I am going to allow discipline-specific associations -- may as well, right? c: We have believe to thank for that suggestion eons ago ^^

As for SAR, definitely another summer event <3 I'd love to do something like that now, but it'll take time and all for me to organize it, and once I get that all in shape we'll be at a point where people can't dedicate that much again xD I do like it, though!

So there's my thoughts on the matter -- anyone else? I'll probably be implementing a horse wellness thing pretty soon so that we can have an outlet for some of that money, so be prepared ^^

[HowlingHooves]

You mentioned an influx of eldery horses, so here's a suggestion for them;

When I was in high school and had a horse of my own, I would help out the local disabled riding group to help pay for board and feed for my old man. The organization was called Healing Horses, and they would utilize the calmer, more patient elderly horses they had so that anyone with disabilities was able to participate in gentle, light riding activities.

Maybe something similar would help them find homes until they passed; a barn option for current members? The eldery horses could only be placed into that type of barn, and, should the barn owner choose, they can have their aging horses participate in something like this for a small fee? Very similar to simple lesson horses, really, but completely dedicated to the older horses.

Or maybe there could be a biweekly/monthly event involving the older guys and gals to show they've still got some spring in their step. Light showing, so to speak. The ranch I was at held something similar within their monthly showcase, where only horses of a certain age were able to be ridden. Mostly it was you get kids who rode in the event, and it was a very basic type that mostly had the kids asking their horse the basics like walking, turning around, trotting and stopping. The judge was in the middle of the ring, giving the kids the commands they were to ask their horses. Simple, and it got the younger ones who had little experience out there gaining more on a horse that could be trusted to (hopefully) not spook or throw the rider.

[SydneyandStorm]

Yeah, I was thinking of having RVEC host something like that... I just don't know how many members would want to have their barns be for non-showing, non-profitable, non-breedable horses, you know? I do like the idea of a weekly or biweekly event for them, though! Love your idea -- give me a bit of time to figure out all the specifics, but I really like that ^^